Among 8,000 children followed from kindergarten to third grade, those who watched the most TV were at the greatest risk of being or becoming overweight, Dr. Sara Gable of the University of Missouri, Columbia and her colleagues found. And the fewer meals children ate each week with their families, the more likely they were to put on excess pounds.

–Dr. Altman—One of the most successful things you can do for your kids is have a family dinner. Studies show they will do many things in life better.

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 6 (Reuters) - A South African woman, who claims to be the world’s oldest living person at 132, advocates fresh food and exercise as the keys to longevity.

Moloko Temo holds an identity card from the South African government confirming her birth on July 4, 1874, but international authorities have not verified her age and The Guinness Book of Records gives the title of oldest person to a French woman who died aged 122 and 164 days in 1997.

Whether a world record-breaker or not, Temo is extraordinary in South Africa where the average lifespan is less than 50.

–Dr.Altman: She says fresh food first, and she is right. You can never out exercise a bad diet.

U.S. children grow bigger bellies

Nov 6, 2006

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American children and teens are growing ever-fatter tummies, a bad sign that means they are at even more risk of heart disease and diabetes, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

They found that the belly fat of children and teenagers had increased by more than 65 percent since the 1990s — directly in line with rising obesity rates.

But belly fat is more dangerous than general weight gain, because abdominal and visceral fat — found surrounding the internal organs — is more clearly and strongly linked with disease than general body fat.

Catching unhealthy body fat early can help people change their habits before any permanent damage is done, the researchers said.

–Dr. Altman: Just a few thoughts on this subject, because it involves kids. If you don’t want to change any dietary habits, that’s fine you’re an adult, each of us has to live with the choices we make. The kids don’t get to make that choice. Belly fat is associated with Trans-fat consumption. Watch labels for Partially Hydrogenated oil. That’s the tip-off, no matter what the front of the package looks like.